The seven-storey building will feature 256 long-term care beds and 57 affordable rental homes for seniors, as well as ground-floor non-residential space.

Seven organizations will share in the funding, including the Canada Green Building Council, and Mohawk College. Both will launch construction-focused programs.

Building new homes quickly – without ensuring that they are well-designed, insulated and air-sealed – will create more greenhouse gas emissions.

Several announced measures surround housing, with the federal government pledging to remove GST on construction of new rental apartment buildings.

Paul Calandra has asked a legislative committee to conduct the review.